This past June, The Star-Ledger published an editorial recognizing the State Commission of Investigation’s valuable record of service to New Jersey’s taxpayers.
Surprising then, that on Nov. 7, an article would appear in The Ledger citing “an uncertain future for the SCI,” saying the organization is “suffering faded regard” and calling it a watchdog fighting “for survival.” It questioned both the quality of the SCI’s recent reports and the organization’s productivity.

The article focused on the SCI’s recent report detailing waste and abuse by the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association, the organization that runs high school sports. It asserted that the SCI undertook its investigation at the request of a single member of the state Legislature and, somehow, that constituted a conflict of interest. In fact, the SCI was required to conduct this inquiry because a formal resolution directing the agency to do so was adopted with overwhelming bipartisan support by both houses of the Legislature.

As part of that inquiry, the SCI pointed out the NJSIAA’s reliance on corporate sponsorships for a substantial part of its budget. Perhaps The Star-Ledger article should have disclosed that the newspaper is the NJSIAA’s largest corporate sponsor, paying $100,000 annually for the exclusive right to be the association’s official media outlet.

Interestingly, the only critics in the story to support the premise of the SCI’s “faded regard” were NJSIAA boosters.

However, this small watchdog agency has become more productive in recent years and, if measured by the savings generated as a result of its reports and public hearings, may be one of New Jersey taxpayers’ best investments. Look at the sheer number of significant legislative and regulatory reforms enacted as a direct result of the SCI’s investigative findings and recommendations: an overhaul of the state contract procurement system, new compensation and accountability rules for public school administrators, better health care fraud laws, stronger governance of public higher education. The list goes on.

The SCI’s work over the last five years documented more than $50 million in wasted tax dollars and outlined practical ways to recoup much of it. Given the New Jersey’s dire fiscal problems, this agency is more relevant than ever.

New Jersey’s largest newspaper got it right back in June, and taxpayers will continue to be well served by this independent watchdog in the future.

Alan A. Rockoff is executive director of the State Commission of Investigation.